Oil separator



' April 8, 1930. J w, cus ET AL OIL SEPARATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 iledMarch 50, 1929 Inventor) ,JW Gmrmorr IQ Eye/M77 C, I far-re Mal.

Attorney Patented Apr. 8, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE JOSEPH W.CUSHMAN, JOHN D. EVERETT,

MERRICK AND TEXAS, ASSIGNORS TO JOHN F.

AND CLINTON J. FARRELL, OF VERNON, W. A. .TEAGUE, BOTH OF WICHITA.

COUNTY, TEXAS, R. E. L. SANER, SAID FARRELL AND SAID EVERETT OILSERARATOR Application filed MarchBO, 1929. Serial No. 851,398.

This invention relates to improvements to what is known in the art as anoil separator. p

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved oilseparator whereby 6 crude oil from the Well will be thoroughly cleansedand freed of water and other foreign substances prior to its receptioninto supply tanks. 1 A further object of the invention is to pro- 1 videa device, whereby the oil from a plurality of wells is admitted into asingle 011 separator and there to be freed of Water and al foreign andimpure substances in a thorough and novel manner, and then to bedischarge and conveyed to the reservoir tank.

Another .salient object of the invention is to provide an oil separatorwhich is simple in construction, inexpensive, thoroughly efficient inuse.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from astudy of the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical section taken through practical, an

' the tank showing my improved separating means.

Figure 2 is a sectional view, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view, line 33 of Figure 1.

With reference more in detail to the draw ings, it will be seen thatmyimproved sepataken on the rator embodies a cylindrical tank generally 8the reference, character 5 and of spaced inner and outer spaced so as todesignated by comprising a pair walls 6 and 7 respectively, provide aninner chamber 8, her 9. The cylindrical tank 5 is further provided withthe usual bottom 10 and top 11. The upper portion of the tank 5 isprovided with a receiving head 12 adapted to receive the crude oil froma plurality of wells through an intake exhaust 13, extending inwardlythereof as at14, which intake 13 leads from an intake chamber 15,suitably supported on the cylinder 5 by means of thebracket 16 and intowhich the oil is conducted from the -respective well by means of intakeconduits 17.

The top 11 of the tank is rovided with an 50 opening 18, while a funneshaped member d at 25.

and outer cham- 19 is formed integral with the top 11 and deendsinwardly into the inner chamber 8. The funnel shaped member 19 has itsflared mouth 20 formed integral with the top 11 adjacent the opening 18as at 21. It is to be understood, of course that the receiving head 12communicates with this opening 18 and consequently with the flaredfunnel shaped member 19. A vertical shaft 22 has one end journaled inthe top wall of the cylinder head 12 within journal bearings l 23 andthe other end of the shaft 22 journaled in the bottom end of a sedimenttrap 24, as

The sediment trap 24 will be hereinafter more fully described. The shaft22, it is to be noted, is supported in a bearing 26, which bearing 26 issuitably supported in the d mouth of the funnel member 19 by means ofbrackets 27.

The funnel shaped member 19 terminates adjacent its lower end in thesediment trap 24, which trap 24; is formed preferably integral with thefunnel 19 and is substantially conical in formation and having at itsapex the bearing 25 in which is journaled the shaft 22, as beforeset'forth.

Fixed to the shaft 22, and located within the receiving head 12 is apower wheel 28, and is constructed of sectionalized bands having threecircular sections A, B, and C, provide with alternating bands29,'against which the oil from the intake exhaust 13, impinges forrotating the shaft 22. Fixed to the shaft and in spaced relation is aplurality of cutting blades 30,10cated within the funnel 19 and adaptedto rotate therein during actuation of the shaft 22. Within the sedimenttrap 24, that portion of the shaft dependingtherein carries a pluralityof cutting blades 31, raduating in size with the smallest of the b ladesdisposed adjacent the apex of the chamber. Thus it will be seen that thecrude oil upon striking the'bands 29 to operate the wheel 28 will, bygravity, flow through the funnel 19 and there be further broken up andforced mouth of the downwardly by the rotation of the cutters 30,

the force of the outlet 38 formed in the the inner chamber member 39.This in the crude oil settles, the sediment settling in the bottom ofthe trap and the oil and Water rising to be forced out of the trapthrough the outlet pipe into the inner or what may be termed the oilchamber 8. I

The oil and water having collected in the chamber 8, the oil will seekthe higher level and direct its course upwardly against the retarders orbaflie plates 33, which plates are hingedly connected to the funnel 19and the said plates adapted to extend downwardly and outwardly from thefunnel with their free ends terminating in spaced relation to the innerwalls 7. The plates 33 are preferably of triangular formation andradiate from the funnel in spaced relation. These plates are preferablyarranged in series and each of said series comprising a plurality of theplates arranged one above the other and in spaced relation to eachother. See Figures 1 and 3. Suitable brackets 35 connect the free endsof the bafile plates 33 with the inner wall 7 for bracing the plateswhen in their extended position. 'The oil' then rises upwardly in thechamber 8 between the individual plates and the inner wall of thechamber, freeing itself of the water which settles in the bottom of thechamber to be dis-.

charged from the chamber to a plurality of openings 36, formed in thewall 7 adjacent the bottom 10 of the tank to rise within the outerchamber 9, being finally discharged through the water outlet pipe 37,communicating with the chamber adjacent the upper end of the tank 5, theoil rising within the chamber 8, forcing its way between the baffleplates to be finally discharged through the upper end of the tank 5 andcommunicating with the chamber 8. A U-shaped member 39 in the form of aring fits closely around and on the inside of 8, the inside wall of theU being curved outwardly toward the center of the inner chamber toprovide a cutting edge for the purpose of cutting the thinnest film ofoil from whatever water may remain in the oil during its rise within thechamber. The U-shapcd member is suspended from the top of the cylinder 5by a plurality of flexible links 40 to permit u ward movement of theIF-shaped member 39 I will hereinafter refer to as a cutting edge and isada ted to be kept in position at all times to talie off the thinnestfilm of oil and at the same time being capable of rising with the oil torevent the oil and water pressure from forclng the oil over the cutter,that would not be free from the water.

The basic settlements and all foreign substances are solid found in theoil and which settle in the trap and are discharged there from bygravitation to a discharge pipe 41, leadin from the lower end of thetrap 'throug the walls 6 and 7 as at 6' and 7 respectively.

as at 34, 1

The discharge 41 is provided with the usual valve 42, the purpose ofwhich is apparent.

Such gas as may be present at the time oil is discharged from the intakepipe 17 into the intake chambers 15 and finally into the receiving head12 to be discharged against the power wheel 28 will be readily relievedthrough the pressure of valves 46 on the outet pipe rising from thereceiving head.

It is yet to be mentioned that a bracket 43 rises from the bottom 10'and is riveted or otherwise secured as at 44, to the trap 24 adjacentthe apex of the trap. This bracket 24 tends to hold the funnel 19 andtrap 24 rigid within the chamber 8. i

It is though that the construction, operation, and advantages of thisinvention will be clearly understood Without a more detailed descriptionthereof. The present embodi ment of the invention has been disclosed indetail merely by way of example and it is apparent that changes in thedetails of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts maybe resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention andthe scope of the claims without sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I wish to claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a cylindrical tank comprising apair of spaced walls dividing the same into an inner and outer'chamber,a receiving head formed on the top of the tank and provided with anopening, an intake funnel formed centrally of and depending from the topof the cylinder into said inner chamber and communicating with theopening in the receiving head, a trap formed on the lower end of saidfunnel, a shaft journaled in the funnel and extending into the head andtrap, cutting blades on the shaft and located within the funnel andtrap, a power wheel on the upper end of the shaft and adapted to rotatewithin said receiving head.

2. In an oil separator of the class described, a cylindrical tankcomprising a pair of spaced walls dividing the same into an inner andouter chamber, an oil receiving head formed on the top of the tank andprovided with an opening, an intake funnel formed centrally of anddepending from the top of the cylinder into said inner chamber andcommunicating with the openin in the receiving head, an intake chamberisposed on the top of the tank and communicating with said intake head,means for supplying oil to the intake chamber, a shaft journaled in thefunnel and extending into the head, a power wheel on the upper end ofthe shaft, said power wheel being provided with a plurality of bandsradiating therefrom and against which the oil from the intake chamher isadapted to impend for operating the wheel, a plurality of blades carriedby the shaft and located within said funnel, a trap formed at the lowerend of the furinel to receive the oil in its passage through the funnel,and overflow pipes associated with the trap and communicating with theinner chamber.

3. In an oil separator of the class described, a cylindrical tankcomprising a pair of spaced walls dividing the same into an inner andouter chamber, an oil receiving head formed on the top-of the tank andprovided with an opening, an intake funnel formed centrally of anddepending from the top of the cylinder into said inner chamber andcommunicating with the openin in the receiving head, an intake chamberisposed on the top of the tank and communicating with said intake head,means for supplying oil to the intake chamber, a shaft journaled in thefunnel and extending into the head, a power wheel on the upper end ofthe shaft, said power wheel being provided with a plurality of bandsradiating therefrom and against which the oil from the intake chamber isadapted to impend for operating the wheel, a plurality of blades carriedby the shaft and located within said funnel, a trap formed at the lowerend of the funnel to receive the oil in its passage through the funnel,and overflow pipes associated with the communicating with the innerchamber, baflle plates within said inner chamber and su ported by saidfunnel and said inner cham er being provided with an oil outlet formedadjacent the upper end of the tank.

4. In an oil separator of the class detrap and scribed, a cylindricaltank comprising a pair of spaced walls dividing the same into an innerand outer chamber, an oil receiving head rising from the top of saidtank, an intake funnel formed centrally of and depending from the top ofthe cylinder into said inner chamber, and said funnel communicating withsaid oil receiving head, said funnel terminating at its inner end in aconical shaped oil receiving trap, a shaft journaled in the funnel andextending into said head andtrap, a power wheel carried by the shaft andlocated within said oil receiving head, said wheel comprising aplurality of -bands radiating therefrom and against which the oil isadapted to impend for rotating the wheel, cutting blades on the shaftand located within the funnel and trap, means for directing the oil fromthe trap into said inner chamber, baflie plateswithin said inner chamberand supported by said chamber formed in the tank adjacent the top ofsaid tank, and said inner wall being provided with a plurality of spacedopenings adjacent the bottom thereof communicating with said outerchamber, and a water outlet portion for said outer chamber.

5. In a device of the character described,

naled in said funnel and extending into the head and trap, cuttingblades on the shaft and located within the funnel and trap, a powerwheel on the upper end of the shaft adapted to rotate within said onreceiving head, said trap being provided with overfiow pipes extendinginto said inner chamber, drain means associated with the trap andextending outwardly of the cylinder, baflie plates within said innerchamber, a plurality of openings formed on said inner wall andcommunicating with said outer chamber, an outlet for said outer chamber,an outlet for said inner chamber formed in the tank adjacent the top ofthe tank, and a substantially ring-like member dependin inwardly of theinner chamber adjacent sai outlet.-

6. In a device of the class described, a tank, an oil receiving headassociated with the tank at the upper end thereof, an 011 rebeingprovided with a plurality of cutting blades for agitating the oil duringits flow through the conduits.

7. In a device of the class described, a cylindrical tank comprising apair of spaced walls dividing the same into anouter chamber, an oilreceivin head formed on the top of the cylinder an having an o eningprovided therein, an intake funnel ormed centrally of and depending fromthe top of the cylinder into said chamber and communicating with theopening in the receiving head, a trap formed on the lower end of saidfun-' nel, overflow pipes for the trap extending into said inner endchamber, a drain leading from the trap and extending outwardly of saidtank, a shaft journaled in the funnel and extending intothe head andtrap, cutting blades on the shaft located within the funnel and trap, apower wheel on the upper end of the shaft having a plurality ofalternately arranged spaced bands radiating therefrom,

means for rotating the wheel for actuatingthe shaft, baflie platesextending from the funnel and projecting downwardly and outwardlytherefrom, the free ends of said baffles terminating in spaced relationfrom said 3 inner walls, a plurality of openings formed in said innerwalls adjacent the bottom of said walls, outlets for the respectivechambers, a substantially ring-like member of U-shaped formation incross section fitting 1o loosely around the inside of said inner chamberadjacent its outlet, means for suspendin said member from the top ofsaid tank. an% the inner wall of said ring-like u-shaped member beingcurved outwardly toward the center of said inner chamber.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

JOSEPH W. GUSHMAN. 'JOHN DIEVERETT. CLINTON J. FARRELL.

